Truck bolster suspension



May 25,' 1943. .1 LEDWINKA TRUCK BOLSTER SUSPENSION Filed Jan. 5, 1940 2Sheets-Shea?I l INVENTOR Joseph Ledwz'na A TTORNE Y May 25, ,1943. J.LEDWINKA TRUCK BOLSTER SUSPENSIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1940INVENTOR.

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Patented May 25, 1943 yTRUCK BOLSTER SUSPENSION JosephLedwinkaQPhiladelphia, Pa., assigner to Edward G. Budd ManufacturingCompany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ,o

Application January 5, 1940, serial No. 312,470

tomos-19o) Claims.

such as rubber is employed in place of 4metal springs.

The invention relates more particularly to the provision of annularrubber springs for resiliently lsupporting the bolster, and to specialsuspensions cooperating with the rubber elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a light weight compacttruck, having a pleasing streamlined appearance.

Other objects-and advantages will be understood from the presentspecification; in `connection with the drawings which form a partthereof, and which disclose, more or less diagrammatically, apreferredform of the invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a'plan View of one longitudinalhalf of the complete truck;

Fig. '2 is a fragmentary. side truck onr a much larger scale; ,Y

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary sectionalplanviemthe section being made on the`plane indicated--eby the line 3-3 of Figs. 2 and 4, and on a stilllarger scale; and

Fig. 4 is afragmentary elevation corresponding to Fig. 3, with certain:partsin section .on the planes indicated-by the broken line 14-4 ofFig. 3.

`elevation of the In all the figures, corresponding elements. are.

indicated by similarVv reference characters. The truck comprises thebuilt-up hollow side frames 2, connected attheirfends-bythe transverserods. or braces 3, and .at their midpoints by Ythetransom 5.` An axle`|.at each end of. the truck. carries` the wheels4, and withinthetransom5 is housed the bolster 6. The transverse braces 3 may be mounted`inrsuitable, bores in the enlarged ends ,22 ofybrackets 1, securedtothe side frames/,2, withfyieldablebushings I2,3` of rubber or the likein Seid, boresgtoV alTord a slight yield. These parts, mayl be assembledby providing a suitable `shoulder 24 near.y each end of each rod 3,while the Vends .25. of v-the rods may be, reduced and threadedtoreceive nuts 26 an washers 21, to hold the rubber in place.

It willjbeunderstood that theside frames Y.2

are preferably built-up of suitably formed halves of sheet metal ofsufficient thickness and strength, secured to cneanother in any suitablemanner, as by welding]A Preferablya corrugated Joopv plates will be"provided and welded to the halves forming theside'frames,or the purposeof increasing,thestrengtn and stiffness thereof,

while at the same time A,affording a pleasing appearance. Each rsideplate may have the customary pedestals 2| formed therein,lto carry-thejournal boxes 14. V

Angle braces 9 may be secured to the side. frames and to the transom asshown, to aord a strong .and rigid connectionA therebetween. These anglebracesv 9 consist preferably of triangular pieces of sheet metal withflanges bent up therefrom, as indicated at 28. Stiffening corrugations,such as that indicated .at 29 i-n Fig. 2, maybe provided to strengthenthe side framesand at the same time to form decorative features Vofthesame. l

The bolster 6 at one end may have an arcuate upper wall .as shown at|Uin Fig. 4,-and below the `same a portion ofthe bottom of the bolstermay be cut away, asindicated at 30,in order to provide room for theannular rubber springs.v Each of these consists of a cylindricaldrumorbarrel upon whichtnay be mounted the.

' inner .tubular or cylindrical metal. support 3l,

which carries the rubber-rings |2whichinturn are surrounded by the metalsleeves ,32 and 33, vulcanized or otherwise secured thereto.. Thesesleeves32 `and 33 are in turnreceived .in the housing |13 whichiscylindrical in fshape, ,and hasl a plurality of flanges |.4projectingoutwardly therefrom, eachllange having va boredlug134 therein, the boresbeing properly alined to receive a pin or shaft i6. The centralvflangel4may. also carry an arcuate abutment 35, for apurpose which willbe disclosed hereinafter.

Mounted in suitable bearings 36, formed in hanged members 31 securedtothe. bolsterVis a shaft 33. extending across the Vbolster and carryingtheinner ball races39, on which traveltheV balls 4t) `and thecooperating outerraces 4|, which in turnA are mounted within the endYpieces 42 secured to the drum or barrel Linanysuitable manner, as bythe cap screws `43. .The said end pieces42 have arms 44 extendinginwardly there-1 from, that is, toward the middle portionof thebolster,l and these are secured to a 'transverse casting 45, as by thecap screws46.

vArranged below the casting 45, and carried by the bolster, is a pair ofadjusting screws 41, each of which may have a. squared head- 48. andwhich. preferably is threaded through a suitable casting 49 secured tothe bolster, so. that by turning each of 4the screws. 41. lby 4means. ofits headlli l the casting 45. mayV be, lifted withY respect to the bot-`tom ofthe bolster, `seas yto vary the vstressinthe rubber rings.` Itwill be .understoodhthat-the vsleeve 3| is securedtothe-drum tl, forexample by keys and key-ways I) or other suitable fastenings, and thatthe sleeves 32 and 33 are secured to the surrounding housing I3 bysimilar means, such as the keys 5 I.

The pin or shaft I6 passes through the lugs 34 and traverses also thelugs 52, formed at the lower ends of the links I5, each of which carriesa similar bored lug 53 at its upper end. A similar construction isemployed at said upper end to hingedly support the links from theadjacent side frame. For this purpose, a casting I1 is secured to theside frame 2 by means of bolts 54 and nuts 55 passing throughcorresponding holes in the casting Il, tubular spacers 56 ksurroundingsaid bolts, within the hollow side frames to provide rigidity andprevent deforming the side frame upon tightening the nuts.

The casting I1 carries a number of webs or flanges 57, each having abored lug 58 thereon, anda shaft or pin I9 is passed through the lugs 53and 58, to provide a strongpivotal connection therebetween. It willthusbeseen that each end of the bolster is supported yieldably within thetransomV by means of the links I5, which permit vertical as well ashorizontal movement of the said bolster. When a load is applied to thebolster, it willv be transferred to the rubber rings I2, which will bestressed in shear thereby.

Side sway of the bolster is `possible to a limited extent by reason ofother rubber springs 2i), arranged in each side Vframe so as to besubject to compression when ,the corresponding end ofY the bolster movesoutward. The rubber springs 2l] are formed ofvplates or slabs of rubber,vulcanized or otherwise secured to metalA end plates 59, so Vas to formsandwiches therewith. The edges of certain of these plates may be bentover as indicated at 6,0, to interlock the sandwiches withone another.

A suitable casingI encloses therubber sandwiches, and, asyhere shown, iscylindrical so as to afford a simple guide for a slidable plunger 62,which includes ,albaseV 63 forming an abutment for the arcuate membery35, which may slide and/or rollon the said,abutment 63 and may alsoyforce thesame outwardly, by compressing the rubber blocks 2D. vIt isclear that while a cylindrical casinghasbeen illustrated, this casingmayequallywell be of any other desired shape.

Suitable stiflening members, such as partitions 64, may be provided'v inthe'Y side frames and secured thereto, as by welding or the, like, andangle braces 55 'mayalso be provided, as indicated iny Fig. 3 to securethe transoms to the side frames. Casing 6I may be supported by spotwelding its closed outer end to the adjacent plate I8 of theside frame,while its inner end may passV through a flanged opening 66 in acompanion inner plate of the side frame and be secured theretoby spotwelding the cylindrical wall of the casing 6I to the correspondingcylin-v of its top surface by any suitable. means, such as the bolts69.A At each outer end the bolster maybe reinforced by a transversemember 1D, of Ufshaped or channel section as shown in Fig. 4, to assistin carrying the load imposed by the bearing 1I, secured to the bolsterby bolts or thel like 73, and in which rolls the roller bearing l2, forsupporting the vehicle body.

The operation of the invention will be obvious from the structuredisclosed. Briefly it is as follows:

When a load is carried by the bolster, the bolster will tend to descend,and in so doing it will cause the housing I3 to turn with respect to thedrum II, thus stressing the rubber rings I2 in shear. Since these ringsare made somewhat trapezoidal in cross section as indicated, they willbe of approximately uniform strength at various radial distances fromthe center of the shaft 38.

The hinged links I5 permit sway of the bolster from side to side as wellas vertical motion thereof, and increasing loads on the bolster willmerely increase ,the shearing stress in the rubber and vice versa. Anyvside sway of the bolster will be resisted by the rubber slabs 29 actingin compression, thus providing gradually increasing resistance toincreased sway. v'Ihe rubber bushings 23 surrounding the ends of theVrods or braces 3 will allow the side frames to adjust V'themselves tominor inequalities of 'alinement,l such as resultv in service whenpassingvv over a track, thus pre` venting any binding from occurring,while'never# theless'having sufficient rigidity to cause the truck tofunction properly as a whole.- The arcuate abutments 35 may slide aswell as roll along their companion abutments 63, lso asAto provide thenecessary freedom of movement thereat.' i:

While the present invention has been described` herein in connectionwith a certain embodiment thereof, it'isobvious that this embodiment' isnot the only ,form in which the invention "may be constructed, but thatit is merely a disclosure of a certaintype of structure 'which atpresent is believed to be the preferred form; j 1f" 1 Inasmuch as manychanges;l additionsfand omissions may be made with respect Vto thestruc# tures disclosed herein, attention is s'pecifially directed to thefact thatthe invention is not to beconsidered as limited to the*precisestructures herein disclosed, bu-t risjdefined solely byv thefol,-

' 1. In a truck comprising a frame and abolsztler..v

means forresiliently supportingjsaid bolster, comprising an annularvrubber element, adrumy secured to the inside of the element, meansf"pivv otally supporting said drum on the bolster, means,

securing the drum to the bolster and preventing' rotationr of said drumat leastin one directionr about its pivot, and means secured totheYout--i side of the element and hingedly attached to said, frame,wherebyrvertical motion of the bolsterV with respect to the said framewill stress the element in shear.

2. In a truck comprising a'frame and abolstevr.,l

means for. resiliently supporting said bolster, comprising an annularrubber element, a metal drum secured to the inside of said'elernent,said drum being pivotally mounted on thebolster, means for adjusting thedrum about its pivot but preventing rotation vof the drum at least invone direction with respect to the bolster, (and.

means comprising a casing secured 'to the). outside of the element andhaving a portion'hingedly connected to said frame, whereby verticalmor-l tion ofthe bolster with respectto the 'said frame will stress thesaid element in shear. ,l

' 3. In a truck'comprisinga frameand abolster;

means for resiliently supporting said bolst'en, comprising an annular'rubber element, a drum secured to theinside of saidelement, s'aid'drumbsing pivatallv4 lisslliitsd 0n the bfllstslzv means comprising an armextending from thedrum, for preventing rotation .0f the drum at least inons direction with respect to the bolster, an adjusting device forsetting said arm With raspest to: iii@ .blsef @Ildgmans Comprising .a viftsilief Secured, t th .Outside Qf theA element and Vhavingv a perftion. hiesedlv connected t0 said frame, whereby vertical motion ,of thebolster with `:respect to the said-frame. will stress the said elementin shear. l f Y.

4. In a truck comprising a frame 4anda bolster, an annular rubberelement, a supporting means securedfto lthe inside of the element and.sup-

porting said element Qn the bolstery means preventing rotation ofrsaidsupporting means with respect to the bolster, a link, and means securedt0 the outside of the element and pivotally attached to said framethrough said link, whereby vertical motion of the bolster with respectto the said frame will stress the element in shear.

5. In a truck comprising a frame anda bolster, an annular rubberelement, a supporting means secured to the inside of the element andsupporting said element on the bolster, means preventing rotation ofsaid supporting means with respect to the bolster, a number of links, abracket secured to said frame, one end of each link being pivotallymounted on said bracket, and a casing secured to the outside of theelement, the other end of each link being pivotally connected to saidcasing, whereby vertical motion of the bolster with respect to the saidframe will stress the element in shear.

6. In a truck comprising a frame and a bolster, means for resilientlysupporting said bolster comprising an annular rubber element whose axisextends horizontally and at right angles to the bolster axis, meanssecuring the inner cylindrical surface of said element to one, and theouter cylindrical surface to the other, of said bolster and said frame,one of said securing means being a xed connection and the other a hingedconnection permitting relative vertical movement between said frame andbolster` whereby vertical motion of the bolster with respect to thesai-d frame will cause relative rotastationary on one of saidstructures, other meansv being connected to the outer cylindricalsurface of said element, said means comprising a radially extending arm,said arm being hingedly connected to the other of said structures, aspring cushion being inserted between said arm and said last-namedstructure, said arrangement providing for resilient resistance tovertical up and down movements and to horizontal lateral movements ofthe bolster structure with respect to the frame structure.

8. In a truck according to claim 7, said means secured to the inner-cylindrical surface of said rubber element being mounted stationary onsaid bolster structure and said spring cushion being mounted on saidframe structure.

9. In a truck comprising a frame and a bolster, means for resilientlysupporting said bolster on said frame; said means Comprising an ,annularrubber element, tbeaais of this ,element extending generallyhorizontally andirl the longitudinal dirafctian .fifths track, meansrigidly securing one sylilidricallsliifaas of the. element to thebolster; all@ mQBdiSLSCCUlTDg the Other Cylindrical Sufface thereoftoifrsaid frame, said securing means being adapted t0 permit vertical.motion 0f the bplllfwith respect to the said frame and to causerelativevrotation yof said cylindrical surfaces of the. rubber relementthereby stressing the said .element in sheari 10. In la truckvcomprising a frame structure and a bolster structure; means forresiliently supporting said 4bolster structure on said frame structure,Said means comprising an annular rubber element, the axis Yof saidelement extending generally horizontally at about a right angle to thebolster structure, a metal drum secured to the inside of said element,said drum being stationary mounted on one of said structures, meanspreventing rotation of the drum with respect to the structure on whichit is mounted, and means comprising a casing secured to the outside ofthe element and having a portion pivotally connected to the other ofsaid structures to permit relative vertical movement between said twostructures, whereby vertical motion of the bolster structure withrespect to the said frame structure will stress the said element inshear.

1l. In a truck comprising a frame and a bolster, an annular rubberelement whose axis is at right angles to the bolster axis, connectingmeans between one surface of said element and said bolster, connectingmeans between the opposite surface of said element and said frame, saidconnecting means being adapted to permit relative vertical movementbetween side frame and bolster while subjecting the rubber to torsionalshear upon descent of the bolster relative to the frame, and additionalmeans cooperating with said firstnamed means to provide resilientresistance to lateral movement of the bolster with respect to the frame.

12. In a truck comprising a frame and a bolster, an annular rubberelement whose axis is at right angles to the bolster axis, connectingmeans between one surface of said element and said bolster, connectingmeans between the opposite surface of said element and said frame, saidconnecting means being adapted to permit relative vvertical movementbetween side frame and bolster while subjecting the rubber to torsionalshear upon descent of the bolster relative to the frame, and additionalmeans cooperating with said rstnamed means to provide resilientresistance to lateral movement of the bolster with respect to the frame,said last-named means including a rubber element stressedin compression.

13. In a truck comprising a frame and a bolster; a lever extendingsubstantially in the general direction of said bolster and being mountedon said bolster rotatably about an axis extending generally horizontallyand in the longitudinal direction of the truck; a torsion spring beinginserted between said bolster and said lever and having its axisextending in substantially the same direction as the aforesaid axis;connecting means between a point of said lever spaced from the leversaxis and a point of said frame, said means'being adapted to allowvertical motion of the bolster with respect to said frame and to causerotation of said lever about its axis thereby stressing said torsionspring.

14. In a structure, a first member and a second member; a leverjournalled to said rst mem` ber; spring mea-ns being inserted betweenthe lever and said rst member; a link having its ends journalledrespectively to a point of said lever remote from its axis of rotationand said second member so as to permit relative movement against theaction of the said spring means in a direction substantiallytransversely to a plane defined by the axis of said lever and thejournal between said lever and said link; cushion means being insertedbetween said second member and a point on the lever and link systembetween said first and second member so as to resiliently limit therelative movement between the two members in substantially the aforesaidplane.

15. In a structure, a first member and a second member; a leverjournalled to said first member; spring means being inserted between thelever and said first member; a link having its ends journalledrespectively to a point of said lever remote from its axis of rotationand said second member so as to permit relative movement against theaction of the said spring means in a direction substantiallytransversely to a plane defined by the axis of said lever and thejournal between said lever and said link; cushion means being insertedbetween said second member and said lever so as to resiliently limit therelative movement between the two members, said cushion means acting ina transverse direction tothe direction of rotation of said lever; theportions of said cushion means and said lever engaging each other, beingprovided with surfaces adapted to roll on one another during therelative move ment of the said two members. Y v v JOSEPH LVEDWINKA..f

